The importance of electing a Democrat House and Senate for Missouri in 2008 is greater than ever. Without the support of a Democrat legislature, our next Governor, Jay Nixon, will not have the cooperation needed to turn the State around.
"As Missouri goes, so goes the rest of the Country." This is not only true for the Presidential Election, but the way our State and Country are managed. The Show Me State, under the Republican Administration, has shown its citizens and the United States that they are against:
• Health care for our residents
• Supporting our public schools and providing a college education for our children
• High paying jobs and economic development
• Environmental Protection
| Health Care
In 2005 over 100,000 Missouri residents were cut off from their health care access as a supposed quick-fix to the Medicaid system; bringing the total uninsured in Missouri to 700,000. Maynard Wallace and the Republican legislators along with Governor Blunt brutally stripped children, the elderly, the mentally ill and sick Missourians from all access to healthcare. Matching federal funds were also lost which help provide vital services to our seniors and veterans. One of my top priorities will be to restore those who were unjustly cut from these services in a fiscally responsible manner and work towards finding a solution that will allow all Missouri residents access to healthcare.
Education
We have an enormous responsibility to make sure that every student in Missouri learns in school, every day, no matter what. To make this possible we need to ensure that funds are available and fairly distributed to our public schools, that we are recruiting and retaining highly educated and certified teachers, and that the opportunities and authority for school boards and administrators are in place to create their individual communities of learners. I believe in the public school system and I am opposed to vouchers or tax credits that could bankrupt our educational system and the state.
I also believe that every Missouri high school graduate should be able to attend college. Our students need to be competitive, not only in our communities, but on a global scale. With rising costs for college, this opportunity is lessening for more and more families each year. From the beginning, I opposed the Republicans sale of MOHELA and other legislation that lessened the opportunity for working families to send their children to college. Economic Development Southern Missouri, including the Branson Area, is filled with folks who work hard, play by the rules, and try to make better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. I will actively work to promote new and current businesses large and small; support additional funding for infrastructure repair and improvements (including a new state/federally funded bridge for Lake Taneycomo); support increased tax credits for workforce housing developments; and bring more state tourism dollars to our area.
Environment
I feel that the environment is one of the Ozark’s greatest treasurers and measures need to be taken to preserve its wonders and beauty. Along with promoting the eco-tourism industry (camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and other lake activities) that millions of visitors contribute to, I will work to secure tourism dollars for our area, work towards a ground water protection act for Missouri, and will actively oppose the sale of any National Forest Land in Southern Missouri.
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